The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fears over Tayside Covid bed capacity
NHS bosses aim to add extra specialist provision for patients
Tayside health bosses are only three days away from running out of specialist Covid-19 beds, new figures have shown.
Managers are now working to bring 68 fresh coronavirus beds on stream after a surge in hospitalisations across the region.
An average of 12 people require hospital treatment every day, with more than eight in 10 of the available beds already full.
A week ago patients filled only 40% of the region’s specialist hospital beds.
Labour councillor Michael Marra said the rapid acceleration of the virus since Christmas leaves the country in a “very dangerous” position. He said further restrictions were now both “inevitable and essential”.
An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said the board would now scale up its response to the virus, moving to add 68 beds to its current total of 191.
NHS Tayside could run out of specialist Covid-19 hospital beds within days, new data has shown.
The health board reported yesterday 81% of its current Covid-19 beds are already full with cases continuing to surge.
A week earlier, on January 4, less than 40% of its 191-bed capacity was in use.
The figures show the escalating impact of the virus on communities and families across Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Angus.
The rocketing numbers have led to renewed calls for people to follow government guidance and predictions further restrictions are now “inevitable and essential”.
NHS Tayside managers are now looking to scale up the number of available beds in the region, with a further 68 promised in the next few days.
It is not ye t known exactly what effect this will have on other areas of healthcare provision.
On average ,12 new patients in the region require hospital treatment for the virus every day.
Current reported hospital capacity will be met in three days – and exceeded in four–if C ovid -19 hospitalisations continue to grow at the current rate.
Labour councillor Michael Marra said the rapid acceleration of the virus since Christmas leaves the country in a “very dangerous” position.
He said: “So many lives are being lost and we cannot simply wait for the vaccine to rescue us. This analysis shows that our NHS is fast approaching breaking point.
“Our NHS Tayside staff are doing unbelievable work in worsening conditions. We cannot just thank them, we must help them.”
He added :“Further restrictions are both inevitable and essential.
“Both Scottish and UK governments must immediately make self- isolation easier by ensuring that those with symptoms can afford to do the right thing.
“Our test and trace system must be rapidly improved and our airport testing and isolation policy must be radically strengthened.”
Patient numbers in the Ninewells Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU) remain below capacity.
The health board reported eight patients in the ICU, which has capacity for 22, yesterday.
North East region Conser vative MSP Bill Bowman said: “It’s hugely concerning to see such a sharp rise in cases and hospitals coming under such pressure.
“NHS Tayside capacity is nearing its limit, and we must do everything possible to protect that from happening.”
Mr Bowman said following the restrictions will help relieve pressure on beds and on the frontline workers who are dealing with the crisis, adding that the Scottish Government must also “guarantee NHS Tayside gets the resources to cope with these extraordinary demands – while continuing to provide other life-saving services”.
“It ’ s also imperative vaccine delivery ramps up before services are overwhelmed,” he said.
In Fife, the latest data suggests NHS Fife, with a Covid capacity of 171 beds, is currently not facing the same pressures.
A total of 62 Fife patients were in hospital with the virus on January 4, increasing to 82 yesterday. This is around 48% of the health board’ s overall capacity.
Eight beds from the Fife ICU capacity of 20 were occupied yesterday.
NHS Tayside operational medical director Dr Pamela Johnston said clinicians and managers have been planning their response to the second wave for the past few months.
She said: “The modelling and data indicated that we would hit a further peak of infection in early 2021 and this is proving to be the case.
“The increased transmission in our communities and the impact of the more infectious strain of the virus is directly impacting on the number of cases being cared for in our hospitals.”
She said clinical teams had developed “very detailed plans” to rapidly scale up the number of beds available to Covid-19 patients.
Current capacity was two beds higher than on December 23, when numbers were last measured, she added.
She said: “We currently have 193 ward beds open for patients in Tayside, as well as our dedicated capacity in our Covid-19 Intensive Care and High Dependency Units.
“The next phase of the plan would see up to a fur ther 68 beds being converted for Covid-19 patients, and there is capacity to go beyond that if more beds are needed.
“The last thing, however, our frontline teams want to see is these extra beds filling up. So we are making another heartfelt plea to everyone out there to follow the guidance.”
We cannot just thank them, we must help